Pairen Gate

Pairen Gate

Pairen Gate derives its name from Confucius’ saying “virtue matches heaven and earth” and serves as the second gate of Dai Temple.

Pairen Gate was built in the second year of Daguan Xiangfu during the reign of Emperor Zhenzong of the Song Dynasty (1009 AD), featuring five bays in width and three in depth, with a single-eave hip-and-gable roof. The hall originally enshrined the Four Symbols of the Chinese constellations: the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise. On either side were auxiliary halls—the eastern one being the “Three Spirit Lords Hall,” which enshrined the three Zhou dynasty remonstrating officials Tang Chen, Ge Yong, and Zhou Wu. Legend has it that when Emperor Zhenzong made his eastern pilgrimage to Mount Tai, he encountered three deities at the South Heaven Gate, who were then bestowed the title “Three Spirit Lords.” Later, this hall was built specifically to enshrine them. The western hall is the “Grand Tutor Hall.”